Rapid Transit

Looking for some wet and mild fun for your next reunion? The White River might be just the ticket.

VERMONT'S WHITE RIVER WINDS THROUGH THE UPPER VALLEY, ITS CLEAR water running shallow and fairly flat. In a word: mellow. These waters beckon to those alumni back in Hanover for a reunion who might seek a respite from the campus partytents, speeches and all that reconnecting with classmates and friends. A couple hours spent rafting offers the ideal getaway. And little, if any, rough-and-tumble Whitewater.

Silverman and his crew target their river trips to beginners. To participate you don't need to know a thing about rivers or rafts or paddling. All you need to do is show up at Robinson Hall in a swimsuit or other clothing you don't mind getting wet, hop aboard a bus and make your getaway The rafting crew transports rafts, helmets, life jackets, paddles—and an ice chest of cold drinks.

At the put-in spot off Route 14 in West Hartford, Vermont, the river guides, typically students from the Ledyard Canoe Club or graduates of the phys ed departments river rafting class, snap into action. They size up everybody and distribute the rafting gear. And they think of everything. A five-minute paddling demo? Check. A reminder to "go" behind a tree before getting into the rafts? Check. Proper adjustment of helmets and life-jackets? Check.

Each raft holds five or six people, including a guide. The expectations placed on rafters are pretty basic: paddle and talk. The trip affords plenty of time to do both as you wind down the picturesque river through a deep, narrow valley. The five-mile stretch of the river used by outdoor programs consists of a series of small rapids and gentle pools connected by a ribbon of calm, flat water, home to ducks and ducklings, geese and goslings. The rocky banks are interspersed with small meadows lush with wildflowers and an occasional sandy beach. This being Vermont, it's not uncommon to see fishermen or even a naked sunbather or two on the riverbank

While paddling, legacies flirt. Their parents compare notes about life since their last reunion. The conversation often resembles something of a multigenerational Dartmouth gabfest. "The student guides love to talk about their Dartmouth experiences and compare notes with the alumni," says Silverman. And everyone is encouraged to hop overboard for a swim. On the rapids rating scale of 1 to 6 (with 6 indicating seriously dangerous whitewater), these rapids rarely break above the Class 2 level although with some imagination and perfect water conditions, the "twos" can be talked up to Class 3 by some of the guides.

You may not recreate the intense bonding you experienced on your freshman trip. But then again, you aren't a freshman anymore. For a good idea of what the experience can be like, check with members of the class of 1966, who embarked on a reunion trip last summer. Silverman says they were the most memorable bunch he's taken down river: "They had more energy and enthusiasm than the current undergerads. They were like a bunch of college kids."

IF YOU GO Outdoor programs offers trips down the White River, water level permitting, beginning in late April and continuing through the peak of the foliage season in October. Don't worry about getting cold. Outdoor programs will loan you a wetsuit. Reunions week is high-season for rafting trips because the rapids are still fast and the water is bearable. A trip costs $25 for adults and $15 for kids under 18. Non-reunion trips also can be arranged by families, groups of friends and mini-reunions anytime during the summer—water permitting. Phone or e-mail Michael Silverman at (603) 643-6534 or michael.silverman@dartmouth.edu for details.

LEE MMICHAELIDES is managing editor of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine